A carbonate in which but half the hydrogen of the acid is replaced by a positive element or radical, thus making the proportion of the acid to the positive or basic portion twice what it is in the normal carbonates; an acid carbonate; -- sometimes called supercarbonate.

a salt of carbonic acid. Lactic acid, which normally accumulates in muscle tissue during strenuous exercise, is a major cause of muscle fatigue. Adding dietary bicarbonate helps reduce the acid load in muscle tissue and also helps to increase blood pH, leading to a quicker recovery from muscle fatigue. A drop in the pH indicates an increase in the acidity of the blood. In lay terms, this is referred to as "acidosis", but more correctly it is the LOWERING OF THE ALKALI RESERVES.

In medicine, bicarbonate usually refers to bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarbonate, baking soda) white powder that is common ingredient in antacids. Also, the bicarbonate level is an indirect measure of the acidity of the blood that is determined when electrolytes are tested. The normal serum range for bicarbonate is 22-30 mmol/L.

The most common and important base found in the plasma and blood. Bicarbonate is a important metabolic component of the acid-base balance, involved in regulation on the normal acid-base balance (pH 7.35-7.42). The bicarbonate ion concentration is regulated by the kidneys by increasing or decreasing the resorption of HCO3- in the renal tubule. The normal [HCO2-] is maintained between 22 - 26 mEq/L with a mean of 24 mEq/L

A natural form of antacid or base that is normally excreted by the pancreas to neutralize the stomach acid as your food laves the stomach and enters the intestines. Bicarbonate is dissolved in the blood and converted to citrate by the kidneys. Common baking soda is chemically sodium bicarbonate.

Essential for regulating vital functions and one of the important buffers necessary to maintain normal acid-base balance in the body. Body metabolism results in mainly acid production, and neutralizing some of such acids is its constant activity, thus it plays a key role in metabolic acidosis or alkalosis. Bicarbonate may be lost through watery feces, or can decrease when lungs cannot expel carbon dioxide.